Cowgirls Fall in Final Home Game

Feb. 21, 2012

LARAMIE, Wyo.

The Wyoming basketball team lost a tough one, 68-55, against the
league leading San Diego State Aztecs on Tuesday night. The Cowgirls are
now 11-14 overall and 7-5 in Mountain West play while the Aztecs
improve to 21-5 and 11-1 in league play.

"What a basketball game. I thought it was possession by possession, which is how we've been playing all year," said head coach Joe Legerski.
"With two minutes to go we are down five, at the free throw line and we
come up empty. They made a play and now the lead was back to seven.
With such a short amount time left on the clock, we needed to keep it to
one possession. The effort by the team was tremendous. Alison Gorrell
had her best night as a Cowgirl by far. To be able to go out and get 16
points, five rebounds, she kept making play after play and really kept
us in the game. It was a push on the glass but we need to do a little
bit better of a job. We have to make more plays against a team that is
the number one team in the conference."

Two Cowgirls finished their night in double-figures led by freshman Alison Gorrell,
who recorded a career high 16 points plus five rebounds in 32 minutes
of play. She shot 6-7 from the field and 4-4 from the free throw line. Ashley Sickles followed with 11 points followed by Chaundra Sewell
with nine points and a game high seven rebounds. Wyoming shot 20-52
(.385) from the field and 13-16 (.813) from the free throw line.

The Aztecs were led by Courtney Clements with a game high 25
points and six boards. Malia Nahinu chipped in 12 points while Kalena
Tutt and Chairese Culberson had a team high seven rebounds. SDSU shot
23-52 (.442) from the field and out rebounded the Cowgirls 38-27.

San Diego State got on the board with two quick baskets giving
them a 4-0 lead. Wyoming answered with seven straight points to earn
their first lead of the game, 7-4. Malia Nahinu ended the run with a
basket and two free throws from Courtney Clements put the Aztecs up one,
8-7. Allison Gorrell scored four of the next six points giving UW a one
point lead, 9-8. The two teams traded the next couple of baskets as the
Cowgirls maintained a 13-12 advantage through the second media timeout.
They would extend that lead with four straight points making it 17-12.
San Diego State responded with an 11-3 run to retake a 23-20 lead.
Wyoming closed the gap to one, 25-24, and then scored five of the next
seven to go ahead by two, 29-27. A three-point play by the Chairese
Culberson to close out the half gave them a 30-29 advantage going into
the lockerroom.

The Aztecs extended the lead to five, 36-31, out of the break
with a 6-2 scoring run. Wyoming chipped away at the lead by scoring 8 of
the next 12 to pull within two, 41-39. A basket by Courtney Clements
would stop the run and make the score 43-39, but a three-point play on
the next possession by Woodward made it 43-42. Every time the Cowgirls
would seem to get within reach a basket by Courtney Clements would stop
any momentum by Wyoming. With the score 53-48, a three point basket by Kayla Woodward
brought the score to within two 53-51 with seven minutes left in the
game. Four straight by SDSU gave them a 57-53, which was answered with
two Chaundra Sewell
free throws to close the gap to 57-55. Three free throws from the
Aztecs extended the score back to five, 60-55. On the next possession,
Sewell was fouled but missed the front end of the one and one. They
would have two more chances but eight free throws down the stretch gave
San Diego State the 68-55 win.

Wyoming will be on the road for the final two games beginning
with Boise State, on Saturday, Feb. 25. The game is set for 2:00 p.m. in
Boise.